The Clutter of Creativity, 5 Simple Ways to Organize Your Living and Work Spaces

Hello and Happy Holidays from Anne and Helen at Creations Unlimited, LLC!

In this busy time of year with extra shopping, decorating, parties and more on top of your regular schedule, we offer 5 simple ways to keep your work and home spaces more organized and tidy, and keep "hectic" to a minimum.

1. RULE OF FIVE

In the midst of creating art, preparing food, quilting, gardening, decorating...it is easy to look up and find your workspace a messy disaster. Eventually the lack of organization will be a detriment to productivity, efficiency, and your psyche.

To keep materials accessible and the mess contained, each and every time you enter your workspace (or any room you want tidier), put away 5 things. Small things, big things, whatever things, but 5--every time. For example, file 5 pieces of paper, put away 5 pens or paints, business cards, correspondence, catalogs, etc. Toss and recycle as many of these items as possible so they don't overflow your file cabinet or storage units.

If you've let things go for a while, you may spend some time at this initially, but keep at it and you will succeed in bringing order to your spaces, and the time to maintain them will lessen. When there are not 5 things to put away, you've got the system, and you can switch to a Rule of 3.

2. IF YOU ADD, THEN SUBTRACT

When you add something, take something else away. If you bring home 3 new items that will stay in your office, closet, or house, donate or remove the same amount from the same room. More is not always better. Think of it as white space on a page. It's cleaner, easier to read, and information is more manageable if you leave some space.

3. HOME SWEET HOME

We've all heard--a place for everything and everything in its place--but sometimes this isn't true. Some things do not automatically have a home. If this is the case, then you have to create one.

You may need some kind of storage piece to assist here, but when your information and materials have designated places, you will save time and frustration by not having to search for what you need when you need it. If it is essential enough to keep, give it a home.

4. PUT IT AWAY IMMEDIATELY

Think twice before just setting things down. Put them away instead. Handle something only once if at all possible.

5. COMPLETE SMALL TASKS IN ONE SITTING

Finish your little tasks in one sitting. For example, complete one small art project; deal with every piece of mail when it arrives. This step develops the discipline you need to take on and complete bigger projects, which can then be divyed up into smaller tasks, which you can complete in one sitting, and so on. Put everything away when you're done, so you don't leave a trail of new small, unfinished projects, and the mess that comes with them.


That's it. Creativity in progress requires "stuff," so these suggestions will not completely cure a clutter problem, but the five steps are easy and they can help.

Until next time, enjoy this beautiful season of love, hope, peace, and good will.

Anne and Helen
http://www.creationsunlimitedllc.com/

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
Hamilton Wright Mabie